This Phase Ib pilot RCT will examine the safety, feasibility, and acceptability of a multi-component intervention to address traumatic stress symptoms among HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men (MSM). Following a baseline assessment, 56 participants will be randomized to receive either: 1) a 7-session intervention to address traumatic stress related to living with HIV/AIDS; or 2) a 7-session, attention-control condition. Follow-up assessments will be administered at 1 and 3 months post-randomization.

Participants will complete measures of subjective distress and craving of stimulants (i.e., methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack) before and after each expressive writing exercise to provide an index of habituation. Habituation is defined as a 50% reduction in the psychological reactivity to the expressive writing experience using these self-report measures.

Participants will be asked to complete 7 intervention sessions which include: 1) expressive writing exercises that focus on exploring thoughts and feelings surrounding a difficult life experience; and 2) stress management skills training to assist participants with managing any acute increases in distress that arise following the writing experience.

No Intervention: Attention-Control

Participants will complete 7 sessions where they will be asked to write about neutral topics and complete psychological measures for the purposes of matching for attention and reimbursement.

Detailed Description:

In the multi-component intervention protocol, participants will complete expressive writing exercises where they will be asked to write about difficult life experiences. Following expressive writing, participants will receive stress management skills training to assist them with managing any acute increases in distress that arise from the writing experience. Participants in the attention-control condition will write about neutral topics and complete psychological measures. The overarching goals of this Phase Ib RCT will be to: 1) examine the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and attention-control; and 2) determine whether intervention participants report reductions in traumatic stress symptoms over the 3 months following randomization. Findings from this Phase Ib trial will inform our efforts to implement a more definitive RCT of this intervention with HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using MSM.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

18 years of age or older

Speak English

Self-identify as a man who has sex with men

Have been diagnosed with HIV for at least 3 months

Provide evidence of HIV-positive serostatus

Report using methamphetamine during the past 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

Do not have the capacity to provide informed consent

Contacts and Locations

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01237366